Tightening device for tightening an article

ABSTRACT

A tightening device for tightening an article includes an elongate panel that is positionable about the article. The elongate panel has a proximal end and a distal end. A tensioning mechanism is coupled with the proximal end of the elongate panel. The tightening device also includes a tension member that is operably coupled with the tensioning mechanism so that an operation of the tensioning mechanism adjusts a tension of the tension member. The tightening device further includes at least one guide member that is coupled with the elongate panel between the proximal end and the distal end. The tension member is operable with the at least one guide member so that the tension member is routed about the article and along a portion of the elongate panel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 62/955,745, filed Dec. 31, 2019, entitled “Reel Based Closure Devices for Tightening a Ski Boot” and Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 63/004,363, filed Apr. 2, 2020, entitled “Tightening System for Ski Boots.” The entire disclosure of both of the aforementioned Provisional U.S. patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference, for all purposes, as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Articles, such as shoes, boots, and other footwear, employ various mechanism that are designed to close and tighten the article. Some articles include materials that are relatively rigid and somewhat difficult to close and tighten. For example, ski boots, such as alpine ski boots, typically have exterior shells that are made of rigid materials, such as various rigid polymers. The exterior shells are often difficult to close about a user's leg and foot due to the rigid polymer materials that are employed. It is also often difficult to make the ski boot comfortable due to the rigid materials that are employed. A proper balance between comfort and fit is desired in ski boots, but may be difficult to achieve due the use of rigid materials and other design constraints. Conventional closure devices that are employed to close ski boots often tighten the ski boot in relatively large increments or steps, which may add a degree of complexity in achieving a proper balance between fit and comfort. Other articles, such as shoes, may include relatively soft materials that are significantly easier to close. Improved devices and mechanisms for closing various articles are desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a tightening device for tightening a ski boot includes an elongate panel, a tensioning mechanism, and one or more guide members. The elongate panel has a proximal end and a distal end and is positionable about a shell of the ski boot between opposing sides of the shell. The tensioning mechanism is coupled with the proximal end of the elongate panel. A tension member is operably coupled with the tensioning mechanism so that an operation of the tensioning mechanism adjusts a tension of the tension member. The one or more guide members is coupled with the elongate panel between the proximal end and the distal end. The tension member is coupled with the one or more guide members so that the tension member is routed between the opposing sides of the shell and along a portion of the elongate panel. The elongate panel is not attached to the shell other than via the tension member.

In some embodiments, the shell includes a first guide member that is positioned on a first side of the shell and a second guide member that is positioned on a second side of the shell opposite the first side. In such embodiments, the one or more guide members directs the tension member between the first guide member and the second guide member. The one or more guide members may be a unitary guide having four lace ports through which the tension member is inserted, or the one or more guide members may include two or more guide members that are separated by a gap along a longitudinal length of the elongate panel. The elongate panel may also include a third guide that is positioned at the distal end of the elongate panel. The tension member may be routed through the third guide transversely to the longitudinal length of the elongate panel. The tension member may be routed longitudinally along a center portion of the elongate panel. The one or more guide members may route the tension member so that two sections of the tension member are routed parallel along the center portion of the elongate panel. Opposing ends of the tension member may be coupled with the tensioning mechanism.

In another embodiment, a tightening device for tightening an article includes an elongate panel, a tensioning mechanism, and one or more guide members. The elongate panel has a proximal end and a distal end and is positionable about the article. The tensioning mechanism is coupled with the proximal end of the elongate panel and a tension member is operably coupled with the tensioning mechanism so that an operation of the tensioning mechanism adjusts a tension of the tension member. The one or more guide members is coupled with the elongate panel between the proximal end and the distal end. The tension member is operable with the one or more guide members so that the tension member is routed about the article and along a portion of the elongate panel. The tensioning mechanism typically includes a spool about which the tension member is windable and a rotatable knob that is operably coupled with the spool so as to rotate the spool in a tightening direction and thereby wind the tension member about the spool.

According to another embodiment, a method of coupling a tightening device with a shell of a ski boot including providing the tightening device, positioning the tightening device between opposing sides of the shell, attaching the tension member to a first guide on a first side of the shell, and attaching the tension member to a second guide on a second side of the shell. The tightening device includes an elongate panel having a proximal end and a distal end, a tensioning mechanism coupled with the proximal end of the elongate panel, a tension member that is operably coupled with the tensioning mechanism, and at least one guide member that is coupled with the elongate panel between the proximal end and the distal end. The elongate panel is not attached to the shell other than via the tension member.

According to another embodiment, a releasable guide for directing a tension member about an article includes a base member, a guide member, and a spring member. The releasable guide is operable with the tension member to route or guide the tension member about the article. The base member is fixedly attachable to the article and includes a proximal end and a distal end. The guide member is engageable with the base member and is disengageable therefrom such that tension on the tension member is quickly adjustable via engagement or disengagement of the guide member and base member. The guide member has an inner channel, an exterior surface, and a lace channel disposed between the inner channel and the exterior surface. The inner channel has a shape corresponding to a shape of the base member's distal end to enable mating engagement of the guide member's inner channel with the base member's distal end. The spring member is operably coupled with the guide member and is configured to contact the base member when the guide member engages the base member. The spring member at least partially separates the guide member's inner channel and the base member's distal end until a sufficient tension force is imparted on the tension member.

The inner channel of the guide member is shaped and sized so that the guide member is slidable into engagement with the base member's distal end and is pivotable over the distal end of the base member to disengage the guide member and base member. The guide member's inner channel includes a recess within with the spring member is deflactable. The guide member's distal end may be coupled with a strap that is configured to enable disengagement of the guide member and base member. The spring member is positioned within the guide member's inner channel. The base member may include a lip or flange that extends outward from a main body of the base member and that extends at least partially around a perimeter of the main body. The lip or flange may matingly engage with an upper surface of the guide member's inner channel. The spring member may extend at least partially around an exterior of the guide member. When the guide member's inner channel is partially separated from the base member's distal end via the spring member, the guide member is pivotable out of engagement with the base member.

According to another embodiment, a guide for directing a tension member about an article includes a base member that is fixedly attachable to the article, a guide member that is engageable with the base member and disengageable therefrom to enable quick adjustment of a tension of the tension member, and a spring member that is operably coupled with the guide member and that is configured to contact the base member to at least partially separate the guide member and base member until a sufficient tension force is imparted on the tension member.

The guide member may include an inner channel that is shape and sized to correspond to a shape and size of a distal end of the base member to enable mating engagement of the guide member and base member. The guide member may also include a lace channel through which the tension member is positioned. The guide member may be slidable into engagement with the base member and is pivotable proximally over the base member. The guide member may include a recess within with the spring member is deflactable. The guide member may be coupled with a strap that is configured to enable disengagement of the guide member and base member. The base member may include a lip or flange that extends outward from a main body of the base member and that extends at least partially around a perimeter of the main body. The lip or flange may matingly engage an upper surface of the guide member. The guide member may be pivotable out of engagement with the base member only when the guide member is partially separated from the base member via the spring member.

According to another embodiment, a method of coupling a guide with a ski boot includes providing a guide, fixedly attaching a base member of the guide to the ski boot, and engaging a guide member with the base member. The guide may include the base member, the a guide member, and a spring member that is operably coupled with the guide member and that is configured to contact the base member to at least partially separate the guide member and base member until a sufficient tension force is imparted on the tension member. Engaging the guide member with the base member may include sliding the guide member into engagement with the base member. In some embodiments, the method may also include disengaging the guide member from the base member. Disengaging the guide member from the base member may include pivoting the guide member proximally over the base member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described in conjunction with the appended figures:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a ski boot having a reel based device that is used to constrict the ski boot about a user's leg.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the ski boot of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a ski boot having a reel based device that is used to constrict the ski boot about a user's leg.

FIG. 4 is a side view of another arrangement of a ski boot and reel based device.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the ski boot of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6-9 illustrate side views of other arrangements of a ski boot and reel based device.

FIG. 10 illustrates how multiple reel based devices may be employed to tighten different portions of a ski boot.

FIGS. 11-12 illustrate reel based devices that are removable from a ski boot.

FIG. 13 illustrates a gross or macro adjustment method that may be employed to allow a ski boot's shell to be quickly and easily opened.

FIG. 14 illustrates a reel based device that is designed to automatically wind or tension a portion of the tension member in order to eliminate slack in the system.

FIGS. 15-18 illustrate another arrangement of a ski boot and reel based device.

FIG. 19 illustrates different embodiments of a releasable guide and a distal guide that may be employed on a ski boot.

FIGS. 20-21 illustrate another arrangement of a ski boot and reel based device.

FIGS. 22A-23C illustrate a reel based device that is designed to be releasable from a base member that is attached to an article.

FIGS. 24A-H illustrate various view of a releasable guide that may be incorporated into an article to guide or route a tension member.

FIG. 25 illustrates an embodiment of a base member that may be coupled with a ski boot.

FIG. 26 illustrates how a panel may be formed so that the panel follows a profile of a housing of a reel based closure device.

FIG. 27 illustrates a panel with one or more molded in features or components.

FIG. 28 illustrates an embodiment of a panel that sandwiches a reel based closure device housing between a ski boot shell and the panel.

FIGS. 29-30 illustrate a ski boot liner that is configured for tightening via a reel based closure device.

FIGS. 31A-B illustrate an elongate panel that may be used to close and tighten an article.

FIGS. 32A-B illustrate another embodiment of an elongate panel that may be used to close and tighten an article.

FIG. 33 illustrates another embodiment of an elongate panel that may be used to close and tighten an article.

In the appended figures, similar components and/or features may have the same numerical reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a letter that distinguishes among the similar components and/or features. If only the first numerical reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components and/or features having the same first numerical reference label irrespective of the letter suffix.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The ensuing description provides exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the disclosure. Rather, the ensuing description of the exemplary embodiments will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing one or more exemplary embodiments. It being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

The embodiments herein describe reel based closure devices that are attached to alpine or ski boots and that are operable to tension at least a portion of the alpine/ski boot. For ease in describing the embodiments, the boots will be generally referred to as ski boots, although it should be understood that the term is intended to broadly cover any alpine or ski type boot. In particular, the reel based closure devices are typically attached to the exterior of the ski boot, such as the shell, and are used to tighten the exterior of the ski boot about a user's leg and/or foot. The reel based closure devices (hereinafter reel based device or reel system) are configured to tension a lace or tension member that is guided about the ski boot via one or more guide members, which may be rigid components that are made of plastic or other materials, or which may be flexible and soft components that are made of fabric materials.

The reel based devices typically include a knob or dial that may be grasped and rotated by a user. The knob or dial is commonly coupled with a spool around which the tension member or lace is wound in response to rotation of the knob or dial in a tightening direction. Rotation of the tension member or lace around the spool tensions the tension member or lace, which tightens the ski boot about a user's foot by constricting the shell and any internal components (i.e., a liner, etc.) about the user's foot. Exemplary reel based devices are further described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/297,047 filed Jun. 5, 2017, and entitled “Integrated Closure Device Components and Methods”, and in U.S. Pat. No. 9,259,056, filed Jun. 21, 2013, and entitled “Reel Based Lacing System”, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.

The reel based devices described herein may replace traditional buckles and/or other tightening systems that are currently used on ski boots to tighten the ski boot about a user's foot. The reel based devices are significantly easier to operate than traditional buckles and/or other tightening systems. As such, user's may greatly prefer to use the reel based devices in tightening a ski boot. In addition, the reel based devices offer significantly more incremental degrees of tightening and loosening of the ski boot in comparison with traditional buckles and/or other tightening systems. For example, traditional buckles and/or other tightening systems often include a limited number of tightening segments (e.g., teeth, steps, racks, and the like) that are used in tightening the ski boot. For example, traditional buckles often employ 5 to 10 teeth on a rack within which an engagement pin is positioned to tighten the ski boot. The engagement pin is moved proximally or distally about the rack and positioned within a proximal or distal tooth in order to increase or decrease the tightness of the ski boot about the foot. The limited number of tightening segments (e.g., teeth) results in the ski boot being tightened or loosened by greater amounts or degrees and thus, it may be difficult to achieve a desired and comfortable fit.

In contrast, the reel based devices are capable of tightening and/or loosening the ski boot by significantly smaller incremental amounts or degrees. For example, if a minor increase in tightness is desired, the knob of the reel based device may be rotated by a quarter turn or even an eighth of a turn to slightly increase the tension in the tension member. The slight increase in the tension member's tension normally results in a slight increase in the tightness or constriction of the ski boot about the user's foot. This incremental adjustment of the ski boot's tightness may allow a desired and comfortable fit of the ski boot about the foot to be easily achieved.

Referring to FIG. 1, illustrated is a ski boot 100 that includes a reel based device 102 that is used to constrict the ski boot 100 about a user's leg. The reel based device 102 is attached to a rear surface of the ski boot's upper shell or cuff via mechanical fastening, adhesive bonding, RF or sonic welding, and the like. The reel based device 102 is operably coupled with a tension member 110 that is guided about the rear surface of the skit boot 100 via a plurality of guide members 112 that are also attached to the upper shell or cuff via mechanical fastening, adhesive bonding, RF or sonic welding, and the like. The guide member 112 allows the tension member 110 to slide and shift about the rear surface of the ski boot 110, which allows tension in the tension member 110 to be equalized or normalized, which prevents stress or tension concentrations within the tension member 110.

The tension member 110 is operably coupled with straps, 106 a and 106 b, that traverse from the rear surface of the ski boot 100 to a front panel 104. The front panel 104 may be made of a fabric or woven material, or may be made of a more rigid material, such as various plastics, such as those used in forming the shell of the ski boot 100. The front panel 104 may be attached to a front surface of the cuff via mechanical fasteners (e.g., rivets and the like), adhesive bonding, RF or sonic welding, or via any other method known in the art. The straps, 106 a and 106 b, may likewise be made of a fabric or woven material, or may be made of a more rigid material, such as from various plastics.

The straps include an upper strap 106 a and a lower strap 106 b. Although the straps, 106 a and 106 b, are illustrated on a single sides of the ski boot 100, in some embodiments a similarly arranged pair of straps is positioned on an opposite sides of the ski boot 100 (see FIG. 3). The pair of straps on the opposite side of the ski boot 100 may likewise be operably coupled with the tension member 110 and the front panel 104. A distal end of the straps, 106 a and 106 b, is looped and includes a guide member through which the tension member 110 is slidably positioned. The guide member of the straps, 106 a and 106 b, may be a rigid plastic material that is configured to minimize friction to enable the tension member 110 to easily slide within the guide member and about the straps, 160 a and 106 b.

Tensioning of the tension member 110 via operation of the reel based device 102 causes the straps, 106 a and 106 b, to be tensioned and pulled toward the rear surface of the ski boot's cuff, which in turn tensions the front panel 104 and causes the front panel 104 to be pulled rearward toward the reel based device 102. This tensioning cause the cuff to close and constrict about a user's leg that is positioned within the ski boot 100. The reel based device 102 of FIG. 1 may be used to replace traditional buckles and/or other tightening systems, or may be used in combination with these components. The reel based device 102 may also be used to loosen or decrease the tension in the tension member, which loosens the ski boot 100 about the user's leg and allows the cuff to be opened so that the user may remove their foot.

FIG. 2 illustrates a rear view of the ski boot 100 of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 illustrates an arrangement of the reel based device 102 about the rear surface of the ski boot's cuff. The coupling of the reel based device 102 and tension member 110 is illustrated, along with the routing of the tension member 110 about the rear surface of the ski boot 100 and through the various guide members. The guide members include a lower guide member 112 that is positioned below the reel based device 102. The lower guide member 112 directs or routes the tension member 110 between opposing sides of the ski boot 100. A centrally positioned upper guide member (not numbered) may similarly be positioned above the reel based device 102 and used to route or direct the lace between opposing sides of the ski boot 100.

The distal ends of the straps, 106 a and 106 b, are also illustrated. FIG. 2 shows that the ski boot 100 may include pairs of straps, 106 a and 106 b, on both sides of the ski boot 100 as briefly described above. The distal ends of the straps, 106 a and 106 b, are looped 120 with a guide member (not numbered) positioned within the looped ends. The guide members of the looped ends 120 guide or route the tension member 110 between the upper and lower portions of the reel based device 102. As described above, tensioning of the tension member 110 causes the straps, 106 a and 106 b, to be tensioned and pulled toward the reel based device 102, which pulls the front panel 104 rearward and constricts the ski boot 100 about the user's legs.

A pair of upper guides 124 are positioned on opposite sides of the centrally positioned upper guide member (not numbered). The upper guides 124 route or direct the tension member 110 between the looped ends 120 of the upper strap 106 a and the centrally positioned upper guide member. In some embodiments, an additional guide member 122 may be attached to the looped end 120 of the upper straps 106 a. The use of the additional guide member 122 may cause a greater tension to be applied to the upper strap 106 a in relation to the lower strap 106 b since the tension member 110 essentially tensions the upper straps 106 a twice. The use of the additional guide member 122 may also increase the rearward force that is applied to the upper strap 106 a and/or lower strap 106 b.

In some embodiments, the upper and lower straps, 106 a and 106 b, may be arranged so that they are separate from one another and independently tensionable. In other embodiments, the upper and lower straps, 106 a and 106 b, may be connected and essentially uniformly tensioned. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the tension member 110 may be routed from the reel based device 102, through the additional guides 122, through the centrally positioned upper guide member and the upper guides 124, and then through the looped ends 120 to the lower guide member 112. The illustrated tension member and guide member arrangement has been found to be particularly useful in tensioning the straps, 106 a and 106 b, and front panel 104.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate another arrangement of a reel based device about a ski boot 200. Specifically, FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the use of two separate reel based devices with one of the reel based devices positioned on the cuff and the other reel based device positioned on the lower shell. The reel based devices are independently operable to independently tighten the cuff and lower shell as desired. FIG. 4 illustrates a side perspective view of the ski boot 200 while FIG. 5 illustrates a front perspective view of the ski boot 200.

A first reel based device 202 is positioned on a side of the ski boot's cuff. The first reel based device 202 is coupled with a tension member 206 that is routed from the side of the cuff and toward the front of the ski boot 200. The tension member 206 is routed through a guide member 204 that is positioned on a distal end of a first panel 208, which is typically part of the ski boot's shell or cuff and made of the same relatively rigid plastic material. The tension member 206 is routed or directed from the guide member 204 and to a guide member (not numbered) that is positioned near the cuff adjuster (not numbered) or ankle portion of the ski boot 200. The tension member 206 is routed from this guide member to one or more guide members (not numbered) that are positioned on a second panel 210, which is also typically part of the ski boot's shell or cuff and made of the same rigid plastic material. A distal end of the tension member 206 terminates at a guide member that is positioned on the second panel 210 as illustrated. An additional pass through guide member (not numbered) may be positioned on a distal end of the second panel 210 in order to ensure that the tension member 206 remains positioned atop the second panel 210 rather than sliding or migrating off the second panel 210.

Tensioning of the tension member 206 via operation of the reel based device 202 tensions the first panel 208 and the second panel 210, which are wrapped around the front portion of the cuff. Tensioning of the first and second panels, 208 and 210, causes the cuff to constrict about the user's leg. In some embodiments, a single panel is used instead of the first panel 208 and the second panel 210. The single panel may be roughly equivalent to the first and second panels, 208 and 210, or may be smaller than the two panels. In other embodiments, three or more panels may be used instead of the first panel 208 and the second panel 210. A single panel or multiple panels may likewise be used in any of the other embodiments described herein.

A second reel based device 220 is attached to a side of the ski boot's lower shell. The second reel based device 220 is operably coupled with a second tension member 222 so that operation of the second reel based device 220 tensions the second tension member 222. The second tension member 222 is routed or directed across the lower shell of the ski boot 200 via a plurality of guide member 224. The second tension member 222 may form a Z pattern or configuration across the front upper surface of the lower shell as illustrated and a distal end of the second tension member 222 may terminate at a distally most positioned guide member.

Operation of the second reel based device 220 causes the second tension member 222 to be tensioned, which causes the lower shell to be constricted and tightened about a user's foot by pulling opposing sides of the lower shell toward one another. The second reel based device 220 is operable independently of the first reel based device 202, which allows the lower shell to be tightened independently of the cuff.

The first and second reel based devices, 202 and 220, may replace traditional buckles or other tightening mechanisms so that the ski boot 200 is free of buckles or other tightening mechanisms. In other embodiments, the first and/or second reel based devices, 202 and 220, may be used in cooperation with buckles or other tightening mechanisms. FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate examples in which reel based devices are used in cooperation with a buckle system. In FIG. 6, a reel based device 302 is attached to the cuff of the ski boot 300. The reel based device 302 is operably attached to a tension member 306 that is guided or routed about a first panel 308 and a second panel 310 via a plurality of guide members 304. The reel based device 302, the tension member 306, the guide members 304, and the first and second panels, 308 and 310, have an arrangement about the upper cuff that is similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The reel based device 302 is operable to tighten the cuff as described in relation to FIGS. 4 and 5.

The ski boot 300 includes a pair of traditional or conventional buckles that are positioned on the lower shell of the ski boot 300. The buckles are used in a conventional manner to tighten or constrict the lower shell about the user's foot. In this manner, the reel based device 302 is used to tighten the cuff while the buckles are used to tighten the lower shell.

FIG. 7 illustrates a ski boot 400 that includes a reel based device 402 that is attached to the lower shell of the ski boot 400. The reel based device 402 is operably attached to a tension member 406 that is routed about the lower shell, via guide members 404, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 and described in relation thereto. The reel based device 402 is operable to constrict and tighten the lower shell about the user's foot as previously described. The ski boot includes a pair of traditional or conventional buckles that are positioned on the cuff of the ski boot 400. The buckles are used in a conventional manner to tighten or constrict the cuff of the ski boot 400 about the user's leg. In this manner, the reel based device 402 is used to tighten the lower shell while the buckles are used to tighten the cuff. In some embodiments, the ski boot 400 may also include a strap (i.e., power strap) that is positioned around the top of the cuff. The strap may include hook and loop fastener materials that enable the strap to be tensioned and coupled about the top portion of the cuff.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment in which a reel based device 502 is used to tension a strap or power strap about the top portion of a cuff of a ski boot 500. The ski boot 500 may include conventional buckles or other tightening mechanism that are positioned about the cuff and lower shell and that are operable in a conventional manner to tighten these portions of the ski boot 500 about the user's foot and leg. The reel based device 502 may be positioned on a rear surface of the top portion of the cuff and may be operably coupled with a tension member 506. The tension member 506 may be disposed within an interior channel of a first or rear strap 510. The tension member 506 may be routed through a guide member 508 that is positioned on a distal end of a second or front strap 504. In some embodiments, the guide member 508 may be a pair of fabric loops that cooperate to guide or route the tension member 506 about the distal end of the second strap 504.

The distal end of the second strap 504 may be slidingly disposed within the interior channel of the first strap 510 so that the second strap 504 is able to slide proximally and distally within the interior channel of the first strap 510. The reel based device 502 is operable to tension the tension member 506, which causes the second strap 504 to be tensioned and to slide distally or rearward within the interior channel of the first strap 510. Distal or rearward sliding of the second strap 504 within or relative to the first strap 510 causes the second strap 504 to be pulled against the front upper portion of the cuff, which causes the cuff to be constrict inward against the user's leg and/or prevents the cuff from opening as the user flexes and bends during use of the ski boot 500. The use of the reel based device 502 on the power strap 500 of FIG. 8 may render the power strap more easy to use in comparison with conventional straps. In addition, although the power strap of FIG. 8 is illustrated as being used with conventional buckles or tightening mechanisms on the lower shell and cuff of the ski boot 500, it should be realized that the power strap may be employed on any of the embodiments herein and thus, may be used on ski boot where a reel based device is employed on the cuff and/or shell.

FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of a ski boot 600 that employs a reel based device. The ski boot 600 of FIG. 9 is similar to the ski boot 300 of FIG. 6 in that a tension member 606 is routed about a first panel 608 and a second panel 610 via multiple guide member 604. The ski boot 600 of FIG. 9 differs from the previous embodiment, however, in that the reel based device 602 is positioned an a rear surface of the ski boot's cuff and further differs in that a portion of the tension member 606 is routed under a surface of the cuff 620. The tension member 606 may be routed under the cuff 620 via one or more sections of tubing that are positioned under the ski boot's shell. In other embodiments, the inner surface of the cuff 620 may form a channel or slot within which the tension member 606 is positioned and routed. Routing of the tension member 606 under the cuff 620 prevents or minimizes interference of the tension member 606 with surrounding objects and/or may provide a visually pleasing appearance that user's prefer.

The tension member 606 is shown as being routed under the cuff 620 between the reel based device 602 and the first panel 608. In other embodiments the tension member 606 may be routed elsewhere under the cuff or multiple portions of the tension member 606 may be routed under the cuff. For example, a section of the tension member between the first panel 608 and the second panel 610 may be routed under the cuff to minimize the appearance of the tension member 606 above the cuff. In such embodiments, the guide member that is positioned near the ankle or cuff adjuster may be positioned under the surface of the cuff.

FIG. 10 illustrates that multiple reel based devices may be employed to tighten different portions of a ski boot 700. Specifically, a first reel based device 702 may be coupled with the ski boot's cuff to tighten a first portion A of the ski boot 700. The first portion A of the ski boot that is affected by the first reel based device is illustrated by the cross-hatchings immediately adjacent the first reel based device 702. A second reel based device 704 may similarly be coupled with the ski boot's lower shell to tighten a second portion B of the ski boot 700. The second portion B of the ski boot 700 that is affected by the second reel based device 704 is illustrated by the cross-hatchings immediately adjacent the second reel based device 704. A third reel based device 706 may be coupled with the ski boot's liner, or an upper portion of the cuff (e.g., a power strap) to tighten a third portion C of the ski boot 700. The third portion C of the ski boot that is affected by the third reel based device 706 is illustrated by the cross-hatchings immediately adjacent the third reel based device 706.

The first reel based device 702, the second reel based device 704, and the third reel based device 706 are each independently operably to independently tighten the respective portions of the ski boot 700. The independent tightening of the different portions of the ski boot 700 allows a customized fit and feel of the ski boot 700 to be achieved. In addition, the minor incremental adjustment that is enabled by the reel based devices (702, 704, and 706) enables an increased customized fit and feel of the ski boot 700 to be achieved.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate reel based devices that are removable from the ski boot. Specifically, FIG. 11 illustrates a ski boot that includes a base member 804 that enables the reel based device 802 to be detached and removed from the ski boot. The reel based device 802 may comprise a housing, a knob, a spool, and a pawl mechanism or other friction holding mechanism, such as those describe in the '047 patent application and the '056 patent that are incorporated by reference herein. The base member 804 includes features that enable the reel based device 802 to be quickly and easily removed from the ski boot. Exemplary embodiments of base members (also called bayonets) that are detachable from reel based devices are further described in the '047 patent application and in U.S. Pat. No. 9,101,181, filed Oct. 13, 2011, entitled “Reel-Based Lacing System”, and in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/263,253, filed Oct. 31, 2005, entitled “Reel Based Closure System,” the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.

FIG. 11 illustrates that the base member 804 may be integrally formed with the lower shell 806 of the ski boot, such as by insert molding the base member 804 within the lower shell. FIG. 12 illustrates a base member 820 that is fixedly secured to the lower shell 806 of the ski boot after the lower shell is separately formed. The base member 804 may be mechanically fastened to the lower shell 806 via rivets 822 or via any other mechanical fastener. In other embodiments, the base member 820 may be adhesively bonded with the lower shell 806, RF or sonically welded with the lower shell 806, or attached via any other means.

While FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate the base members, 804 and 820, attached to the ski boot's lower shell, it should be realized that the base members, 804 and 820, may be positioned anywhere else on the ski boot's shell, such as on the cuff, on a rear surface of the cuff or lower shell, on the front surface of the cuff or lower shell, and the like.

FIG. 13 illustrates a gross or macro adjustment method that may be employed to allow a ski boot's shell to be quickly and easily opened. Specifically, the ski boot 900 includes a guide member 904 that is designed to allow the tension member 906 to be quickly uncoupled from the guide member 904, which allows the first and/or second panels, 910 and 912, to be opened to loosen the ski boot about the user's foot. The guide member 904 includes an open channel or back (not shown) that allows the tension member 906 to be inserted within and removed from the channel in order to couple and uncouple the tension member 906 from the guide member 904.

FIG. 13 illustrates a sequence beginning with image A in which the tension member 906 is initially coupled with the guide member 904 and in which the first and second panels, 910 and 912, are positioned across the front portion of the cuff. In image B the tension member 906 is removed from the guide member 904 by removing the tension member 906 from the guide member's open channel. In image C the first and second panels, 910 and 912, are pulled away from the front portion of the cuff, which causes the tension member 906 to be pulled toward the reel based device 902. The sequence illustrated in images A-C show how the tension member 906 may be removed from the guide member 904 to loosen the ski boot 900 about the foot. The process can be performed in reverse to attach or couple the tension member 906 with the guide member 904 and thereby initially tighten the ski boot 900 about the foot.

While the guide member 904 is illustrated as being positioned on the first panel 910, in other embodiments the guide member 904 may be positioned elsewhere, such as on the second panel 912, on one or more portions of the lower shell, and the like. An exemplary embodiment of a guide member with an open back or channel is further described in the '056 patent that is incorporated by reference herein.

FIG. 14 illustrates a reel based device 1002 that is designed to automatically wind or tension a portion of the tension member 1008 in order to eliminate slack in the system and thereby enable rapid tensioning of the tension member 1008. The term “slack” refers to the tension member being essentially un-tensioned, or having a tension that is less than a given minimal threshold. Slack in the system may occur after the cuff of the ski boot 1000 is pulled open to allow a user to remove their foot or after the user inserts their foot in the ski boot 1000 and releases the cuff.

In image A, the tension member 1008 is illustrated as being coupled with the reel based device 1002 and with first and second panels, 1004 and 1006. A substantial amount of slack exists in the tension member 1008. In image B, the user has inserted their foot within the ski boot 1000 and the tension member 1008 has been automatically wound by the reel based device 1002 to eliminate the slack in the tension member 1008. The automatic winding of the tension member 1008 by the reel based device 1002 pulls the first panel 1004 and the second panel 1006 into engagement with a front portion of the cuff and may initially tighten the ski boot 1000 about the user's leg. In some embodiments, the reel based device 1002 may include a spiral spring, or any other mechanism, that is configured to cause the spool to automatically rotate within the reel based device 1002 and thereby automatically wind or tension the tension member 1008. An exemplary embodiment of a mechanism that is configured to automatically rotate a spool and tension a tension member is further described in the '253 patent application, which is incorporated by reference herein.

In image C, after the tension member 1008 is automatically wound or tensioned via the reel based device 1002, the reel based device 1002 may be operated to further tension the tension member 1008 and thereby further tighten the ski boot 1000 about the user's leg. While the reel based device 1002 is illustrated as being positioned on the cuff, in other embodiments the reel based device 1002 may be positioned elsewhere, such as on the lower shell and the like.

FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate another embodiment of a reel based device that is attached to a ski boot 1100. The figures illustrate a specific lacing pattern that has been found to be effective is closing and tightening an upper and lower cuff of the ski boot 1100. The system includes an upper reel based device 1102 that is designed to close and tighten an upper cuff about a user's leg, and further includes a lower reel based device 1122 that is designed to close and tighten a lower cuff about the user's leg. The upper reel based device 1102 is attached to an upper tension member 1108 in a manner that allows the tension member to be tightened by an operation of the upper reel based device 1102, and more specifically a rotation of a knob of the upper reel based device 1102 in a tightening direction. The tension member 1108 is coupled with a pair of guides 1106 that are configured to be releasably attached with corresponding guide bases 1104 that are attached to an upper panel 1112 that is wrapped partially around the upper cuff. The guides 1106 and guide bases 1104 are similar to those illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18 and are designed to allow a user to grasp and remove the guides 1106 from the guide bases 1104 in order to allow tension in the tension member 1108 to be quickly released and thereby allow the user to quickly don or doff the ski boot 1100. In some embodiments, one of the guides 1106 may be releasable from the guide base 1104 while the other guide is fixedly secured or attached to the guide base 1104. In such instances, the non-removable guide and guide base are typically integrated so that the guide is a single component that is attached to the ski boot 1100. The guide bases 1104 are typically fixed or anchored to the upper cuff. To anchor the guide bases 1104 to the upper cuff, the guide bases 1104 could be attached via a mechanical fastener, such as a rivet or screw, or could be molded directly into the material of the upper cuff. In some embodiments, the guides 1106 include a magnetic and the guide bases 1156 include an oppositely polarized magnet. The magnets assist in placement of the guides 1106 within the guide bases 1104.

The guides 1106 commonly include a tab or grip surface that extends away from the guide base 1104. The tab or grip surface enables the user to easily grasp the guide 1106 and pull the guide 1106 away from the guide base 1104 or align the guide 1106 with the guide base 1104 during attachment of the two components. While the tab is illustrated as a relatively large protruding component, the tab may have essentially any size or shape that is conducive to allowing the tab to be gripped and pulled by the user. For example, the size and shape of the tab may be selected to optimize the size of the grip surface while minimizing the chance of the tab catching or snagging on surrounding objects. Additional configurations of the tab are provided in FIGS. 19 and 20.

The upper reel based device 1102 is typically centrally positioned between the guides 1106 so that an upper portion of the tension member 1108 exits the upper reel based device 1102 and immediately traverse to an upper guide 1106 and so that a lower portion of the tension member 1108 exits the upper reel based device 1102 and immediately traverses to a lower guide 1106. These portions of the tension member 1108 form or define a central path of the tension member about the upper cuff. The tension member 1108 is slidably positioned within the upper and lower guides 1106 so that as the tension member 1108 is tensioned via the upper reel based device 1102, the tension member 1108 slides within a channel of the respective guides 1106. The tension member 1108 is routed via the guides 1106 back toward the upper reel based device 1102. The tension member 1108 may be fixedly secured to the upper cuff of the ski boot 1100 near the upper reel based device 1102, or more commonly, the tension member 1108 is routed around the upper reel based device 1102 via tubing that is positioned under the exterior surface of the upper cuff (see FIG. 18). When the tension member 1108 is routed behind the upper reel based device 1102, the upper reel based device 1102 is essentially enclosed, or surrounded, by the tension member 1108.

The path or configuration of the tension member 1108 ensures that the tension applied to the upper cuff is essentially even or uniform, which helps ensure that the force that is exerted on the user's leg via the upper cuff is roughly uniform. The ski boot 1100 may include additional guides 1106 and guide bases 1104 as desired. In such instances, the upper reel based device 1102 is typically positioned so that it is central relative to the guides 1106 and guide bases 1104. In other instances, the upper reel based device 1102 may be offset in relation to the guides 1106 and guide bases 1104, such as by being positioned nearer to an upper end of the tension member path or nearer to a lower end of the tension member path (see FIG. 20). In some embodiments, opposing ends of the tension member 1108 are operationally attached to the upper reel based device 1102 so that an operation of the upper reel based device (e.g., rotation of the knob in the tightening direction) causes both opposing ends of the tension member 1108 to be simultaneously tensioned. In other embodiments, only one end of the tension member 1108 is operationally attached to the upper reel based device so that an operation of the device tensions only one end of the tension member 1108.

The lower reel based device 1122 is attached to a lower tension member 1128 in a manner that allows the tension member to be tightened by an operation of the lower reel based device 1122, and more specifically a rotation of a knob of the lower reel based device 1122 in a tightening direction. The tension member 1128 is covered and concealed by the lower cuff 1130 and by a lower panel 1114 that is wrapped at least partially around the lower cuff 1130. The lower reel based device 1122 is attached to the exterior of the lower cuff 1130 so that it is accessible to the user. A proximal portion of the tension member 1128 that is immediately adjacent the lower reel based device 1122 may be positioned atop the exterior of the lower cuff 1130, or may be routed immediately under the lower cuff 1130 as it exits the lower reel based device 1122.

FIG. 16 illustrates a portion of the lower cuff 1130 removed and illustrates the lower tension member 1128 positioned within the lower cuff 1130 and guided about a path within the lower cuff. Specifically, the tension member 1128 is guided about the path via a first guide 1126 and a second guide 1124. The tension member 1128 commonly terminates at the second guide 1124 or is fixedly secured to the second guide 1124, although in other embodiments, the tension member 1128 may be guided toward or to the lower reel based device 1122 by the second guide 1124. The tension member 1128 is routed via the first guide 1126 from the lower reel based device 1122 toward the heel of the ski boot 1100 and to the second guide 1124. The tension member 1128 may be positioned above or below the lower reel based device 1122 as it is routed from the first guide 1126 and toward the second guide 1124.

In some embodiments, the first guide 1126 is attached to the lower panel 1114 so that tensioning of the tension member 1128 causes the lower panel 1114 to wrap more securely around or about the lower cuff 1130. In other embodiments, the first guide 1126 and/or second guide 1124 is freely positioned within the ski boot 1100 so that the first guide 1126 and/or second guide 1124 sit atop a liner of the ski boot. In such embodiments, tensioning of the tension member 1128 causes the ski boot's liner to constrict about the user's leg. The first guide 1126 and/or the second guide 1124 may be formed of a strip of fabric or other flexible material. The guide may be formed by folding, wrapping, or bending the strip of fabric to form a loop within which the tension member 1128 is positioned as illustrated in FIG. 16. In such embodiments, the first guide 1126 and the second guide 1124 may be formed of the same strip of fabric with the second guide 1124 being a distal end of the strip of fabric that wraps around an opposite side of the ski boot's liner. This configuration may increase the amount of constriction of the liner about the user's leg as the tension member is tensioned. A material component (not shown) may be positioned under the tension member 1128 to decrease pressure points that may otherwise be created on the liner as the tension member is tensioned.

While the tension member 1108 is illustrated as being positioned atop the upper cuff, in some instances the tension member 1108 may be routed underneath the upper cuff in a manner similar to the routing of the tension member 1128 under the lower cuff. Tubing or other lace routing means may be used to route the tension member 1108 under the upper cuff. In such embodiments, the tension member 1108 may be routed to a position near the guides 1106 in order to allow the user to employ the guides as described herein. Routing the tension member 1108 under the upper cuff allows the upper cuff to remain visually appealing and also aids in protecting the tension member 1108 from unwanted contact with nearby objects. In addition, the tension members described herein may be made of various materials, but are typically made of materials that are capable of withstanding substantial tension loads. In a specific embodiment, the tension member is made of a textile based material or a steel based material.

FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate another embodiment of a reel based device that is attached to a ski boot 1100. The ski boot includes the upper reel based device 1102 and the lower reel based device 1122 as previously described. The upper reel based device 1102 and tension member 1108 have the same configuration as described in relation to FIGS. 15 and 16. FIG. 17 illustrates the guides 1106 in a detached or uncoupled state from the guide bases 1104. A distal end of the guides 1106 is designed to fit within a channel or slot of the guide bases 1104. A more detailed description of the mating of the guides 1106 and guide bases 1104 is provided in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/181,003, filed Nov. 5, 2018, and entitled “Reel Based Lacing System”, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. In some embodiments, the guide base 1104 includes a laterally extending seat or finger that is sized and shaped similar to the guide's tab. The laterally extending seat or finger is designed so that the guide's tab rest atop or is positioned immediately adjacent the seat or finger to minimize contact between the guide's tab and the upper cuff. FIG. 18 illustrates the tubing 1109 that is positioned under the upper cuff and around the upper reel based device 1102. The tubing 1109 is used to route the tension member 1108 under the upper cuff and around the upper reel based device 1102.

The lower reel based device 1122 is positioned on the exterior of the lower cuff 1130 as in FIGS. 15 and 16. The tension member 1128 is also positioned atop the lower cuff 1130 and is guided about a path atop the lower cuff 1130 via a plurality of guides. The tension member 1128 is routed so that the tension member traverses between opposing sides of the lower panel 1114. A first guide 1140 and a third guide 1144 are attached to the lower panel 1114 while a second guide 1142 is attached to the exterior of the lower cuff 1130. The tension member 1128 is routed from the lower reel based device 1122 to the first guide 1140 and is routed therefrom to the second guide 1142. The tension member 1128 is routed from the second guide 1142 to the third guide 1144. The tension member 1128 commonly terminates at the third guide 1144, but in some instances may be routed back toward or to the lower reel based device 1122. The lower reel based device 1122 is operable to tension the lower cuff 1130 independently of the upper reel based device 1102, which allows the upper and lower cuffs of the ski boot to be independently and differentially tightened about the user's leg. The lower reel based device 1122 tensions the lower cuff by wrapping the lower panel 1114 more securely over the lower cuff as the tension member 1128 is tensioned.

FIG. 19 illustrates different embodiments of the releasable guide 1106 a and also illustrates a distal guide that may be used to replace the tubing 1109 that routes the tension member 1108 around the upper reel based device 1102. The guides 1106 a illustrated in FIG. 19 differ from those of FIGS. 15-18 in that the tab member is not a solid component. Rather, the tab member includes a large central opening that may be made of a flexible and grippable material, such as various rubber or polymer materials. The body of the guide 1106 a may likewise be made of a flexible rubber or polymer material, although the body is commonly stiffer than the tab member. In addition, the guide 1106 a includes extended lace ports 1107 that include a channel through which the tension member 1108 is inserted. The lace ports 1107 provide a sheath that shields the tension member 1108 from contact with external objects, which protects the tension member 1108 from accidental or unintended fraying, abrasion, or severing. The lace ports 1107 may be made of a relatively strong or durable material that is able to withstand contact and abrasion from nearby objects that are commonly encountered during skiing.

In other embodiments, the tension member 1108 may be configured to connect directly to the lace ports 1107 rather than being inserted through the lace ports. In such embodiments, the tension member 1108 may be terminate at the ends of the lace ports 1107 so that the tension member 1108 is not wrapped or positioned around the guide base 1104. The lace ports 1107 may be flexible elastic like material that is able to strength or flex as the guide 1106 a is pulled away from the guide base 1104. The flexible or stretchable lace ports 1107 allow the guide 1106 a to compensate for differences in the tension exerted on an upper and lower portion of the guide 1106 a. The tension member 1108 may be attached to the ends of the lace ports 1107 by forming a knot in the tension member 1108 and attaching the knot to the ends of the lace ports 1107. FIG. 19 further illustrates that the guides 1106 a may have different widths T to accommodate different sized ski boots and/or for any other reason.

The distal guides may be used in place of the tubing 1109 that routes the tension member 1108. In such embodiments, the tension member 1108 is typically designed to terminate at the distal guides. The distal guides may be configured to allow the tension member 1108 to be detached from the guide. For example, the distal guides may include a base member 1115 and a removable cap 1116 that attaches to the base member 1115. The tension member 1108 may be attached to a middle pad 1117 that is designed to be positioned between the base member 1115 and the cap 1116. The cap 1116 may be fastened to the base member 1115 with the middle pad 1117 sandwiched between these components. If the user desires to remove the tension member 1108, such as for replacement and/or inspection, the user need simply remove the cap 1116 and the middle pad 1117 from the base member 1115. The cap 1116 may be fastened to the base member 1115 via a mechanical fasteners, adhesive bond, and/or using any other known coupling technique.

FIG. 20 illustrates another embodiment of a guide 1150 that is attached to the ski boot and operationally coupled with the tension member 1108. The guide 1150 is a single guide component that is designed to replace multiple guides, such as the pair of guides 1106 in FIGS. 15-18. The guide 1150 includes channels through which the tension member is inserted and routed. Specifically, the guide 1150 includes an elongate channel that routes the tension member 1108 from the upper reel based device 1102 to a lower-most path of the tension member about the upper cuff. The guide 1150 also includes a middle channel that routes the tension member 1108 between middle paths about the upper cuff. The guide 1150 is designed to releasably couple with a guide base 1156 that is attached to the upper cuff and the guide 1150 includes a central tab 1152 that is configured to allow the user to grip and pull on the guide 1150 as previously described. The guide base 1156 is typically fixed or anchored to the upper cuff via a mechanical fastener, such as a rivet or screw, or via molding the guide base 1156 into the material of the upper cuff. The use of the single guide 1150 allows a user to easily interact with a single component in loosening or initially fitting the upper cuff of the ski boot about the leg, rather than requiring the user to interact with and loosen separate guides for the upper cuff. In some embodiments, the guide 1150 includes a magnetic and the guide base 1156 includes an oppositely polarized magnet. The two magnets assist in placement of the guide 1150 within the guide base 1156.

In the illustrated embodiment, the upper reel based device 1102 is positioned on an upper end of the lace path rather than being disposed centrally between the tension member 1108. The tension member 1128 in the lower cuff is also partially routed under the lower cuff via tubing 1160 or a guide that is positioned under the lower cuff.

FIG. 21 illustrates another embodiment of a ski boot that includes a reel based device. The ski boot includes a front panel 1170 that is removable from a main body of the ski boot in order to allow the user to easily position their leg within the ski boot. The front panel 1170 is also removable to allow the user to customize the performance of the ski boot. For example, the user may remove the front panel 1170 and replace it with a front panel that is more rigid or more flexible in order to provide a desired level of flexibility and performance.

The reel based device, or reel based devices, is cooperatively designed to allow the front panel 1170 to be removed from the ski boot. For example, the upper reel based device 1102 may be secured to a top end of the front panel 1170 or may be positioned within a hole or aperture within the front panel 1170. The upper tension member 1108 is routed about the upper cuff and the front panel 1170 via guides 1106 that are detachable from a guide base 1104 that is attached to the upper cuff as previously described. The tension member 1108 is also routed within grooves 1172 or slots that are positioned along the front panel 1170. In some embodiments, the tubing or tension member channels or ports may be formed within the grooves or attached or secured within the grooves. The tubing, channels, or ports may cover and conceal the tension member to protect the tension member 1108 from contact with external objects that may abrade, wear, or sever the tension member 1108. Detaching the guides 1106 from the guide bases 1104 allows the front panel 1170 to be detached from the upper cuff of the ski boot. Since the upper reel based device 1102 is typically coupled with the front panel 1170, detaching the guides 1106 from the guide bases 1104 allows the front panel 1170 to be removed from the upper cuff.

The front panel 1170 may likewise be detached from the lower cuff of the ski boot. For example, the lower tension member 1128 may similarly be routed via guides 1106 that are detachable from a corresponding guide base 1104 (not shown). In other embodiments, the tension member 1128 may be loosened sufficiently to allow the tension member 1128 to be removed from the front panel 1170. The lower reel based device 1122 may likewise be attached to the front panel 1170 or positioned within a hole or aperture within the front panel 1170 to enable the front panel to be removed from the lower cuff.

The front panel 1170 may be removed for inspection, replacement, and/or for any other reason. The ski boot may include one or more straps that aid in maintaining a desired tightness of the ski boot's upper cuff about a user's foot. For example, FIG. 21 illustrates an upper strap 1174 that encircles the ski boot's upper cuff and that is adjustable to tighten the ski boot about the user's leg. The other embodiments illustrated herein, and in particular FIGS. 15-20, may likewise include an upper strap 1174 for similar reasons.

FIGS. 22A-23C illustrate a reel based device 1200 that is designed to be releasable from a base member 1202 that is attached to an article, such as a shoe, ski boot, article of clothing, or any other article. The reel based device 1200 includes a cylindrical bottom member 1230 that is designed to fit within a corresponding sized and shaped cylindrical opening 1232 of the base member 1202. The reel based device 1200 also includes one or more coupling bosses or projections 1220 that are positioned radially outward from the cylindrical bottom member 1230 and that extend axially downward from a bottom end of the reel based device 1200. The base member 1202 includes one or more circumferentially arranged and positioned slots 1240 that are positioned between the cylindrical opening 1232 and a cylindrical exterior wall of the base member 1202. The circumferentially arranged slots 1240 are configured so that the coupling bosses 1220 are positioned within the slots 1240 when the cylindrical bottom member 1230 is inserted within the cylindrical opening 1232 of the base member 1202. The circumferentially arranged slots 1240 are designed so that the coupling bosses 1220 are initially positioned within a first space 1242 of the slots 1240 when the cylindrical bottom member 1230 is inserted within the cylindrical opening 1232. The positioning of the coupling boss 1220 within the first space 1242 of a slot 1240 is shown in FIG. 23B.

To attach and secure the reel based device 1200 to the base member 1202, the base member 1202 is designed so that the reel based device 1200 may be partially rotated (typically counterclockwise) relative to the base member 1202. Rotation of the reel based device 1200 relative to the base member 1202 causes the coupling boss 1220 to rotate from the first space 1242 into a second space 1241 of the slots 1240. The position of the coupling boss 1220 within the second space 1241 of the slot 1240 is shown in FIG. 22B. An upper portion of the slot 1240 narrows or is enclosed so that as the coupling boss 1220 rotates into the second space 1241, the coupling boss 1220 is positioned under the narrowed or enclosed slot and is not able to be axially extracted from the base member 1202 due to interference between the coupling boss 1220 and the upper portion of the slot 1240.

As shown in FIG. 22B, the slot 1240 includes a radially inward projecting tooth 1204 that is designed to engage with a recess 1222 formed in the coupling boss 1220. The tooth 1204 is formed on or otherwise attached to the exterior wall of the base member 1202 and engagement of the tooth 1204 and the recess 1222 prevents the reel based device 1200 from being counter rotated (typically clockwise) relative to the base member 1202. In this manner, the tooth 1204 and recess 1222 lock or maintain the coupling boss 1220 within the second space 1241 of the slot 1240, which locks or maintains the reel based device 1200 within the base member 1202.

To uncouple the reel based device 1200 from the base member 1202, a tool, such as a screwdriver, is used to decouple the tooth 1204 from the recess 1222 of the coupling boss 1220. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 22A, when the reel based device 1200 is coupled with the base member 1202, an indicator 1208 of the reel based device 1200 is aligned with a corresponding indicator 1206 of the base member 1202. The alignment of the two indicators, 1208 and 1206, visually identifies that the reel based device 1200 is locked or secured about the base member 1202. The visual indicators, 1208 and 1206, may be physical indicators (e.g., arrows, protrusions, etc.) that are formed on the respective components or may be indicia (e.g., color bands, grooves, cuts, etc.) that is positioned on the reel based device 1200 and base member 1202.

With the indicators, 1208 and 1206, aligned, the tool (e.g., screwdriver) may be inserted within a recess or groove 1211 on the base member 1202 and within a corresponding recess or groove 1213 on the reel based device 1200. The grooves, 1211 and 1213, are specifically designed for use with a flat head screwdriver in which opposing ends of the screwdriver's head are positioned within each groove. The grooves, 1211 and 1213, are circumferentially offset slightly, which results in the head of the screwdriver being angled in relation to a circumference of the base member's exterior wall. Rotation of the screwdriver (typically counterclockwise) results in the screwdriver's head transitioning from the angled orientation relative to the circumference of the base member's exterior wall, to a position in which the screwdriver's head is diametrically aligned with the circumference of the base member's exterior wall, and further to a position in which the screwdriver's head is again angled relative to the circumference of the base member's exterior wall, but in which the screwdriver's head faces in an opposite direction. The movement of the screwdriver's head in relation to the base member 1202 and reel based device 1200 imparts a lever force on the exterior wall of the base member 1202, which causes the exterior wall in the immediate vicinity of the screwdriver to flex, move, or distort slightly radially outward. The slight radially outward flexing, moving, or distorting of the exterior wall causes the tooth 1204 to move out of the recess 1222 of the coupling boss 1220, which unlocks the coupling boss from the second space 1241 of the slot 1240. Rotation of the screwdriver further causes the reel based device 1200 to counter rotate relative to the base member 1202, which causes the coupling boss 1220 to rotate back into the first space 1242 of the slot 1240 as illustrated in FIG. 23B. With the coupling boss 1220 positioned in the first space 1242 of the slot 1240, the cylindrical bottom member 1230 may be axially extracted from the cylindrical opening 1232 of the base member 1202 as shown in FIG. 23C.

As shown in FIG. 23A, after the reel based device 1200 is counter rotated relative to the base member 1202, the indicator 1208 of the reel based device 1200 is no longer aligned with the indicator 1206 of the base member 1202. Rather, the indicator 1208 of the reel based device 1200 is now aligned with a second indicator 1210 of the base member 1202. Alignment of the reel based device's indicator 1208 and the second indicator 1210 of the base member visually indicates that the reel based device 1200 is in a position that enables extraction of the reel based device 1200 from the base member 1202. FIG. 23C also illustrates a lace port 1252 of the cylindrical bottom member 1230 and a corresponding lace port 1250 of the base member 1202. As shown in FIG. 22A, when the reel based device 1200 is locked within the base member 1202, the lace ports, 1250 and 1252, of the base member 1202 and reel based device 1200 are aligned. As shown in FIG. 23A, when the reel based device 1200 is unlocked from the base member 1202, the lace ports, 1250 and 1252, of the base member 1202 and reel based device 1200 are misaligned. The alignment of the lace ports, 1250 and 1252, enables a tension member to easily pass through the base member 1202 and to the interior components of the reel based device, such as the spool.

Referring now to FIGS. 24A-H, illustrated is an embodiment of a releasable guide 1300 that may be incorporated into an article, such as a ski boot, shoe, boot, and the like. The releasable guide is operably coupled with a tension member (not shown) and is designed to guide or route the tension member along a lace path about the article. The releasable guide 1300 allows for a quick release of the guide and tension member from the article, which limits the amount of lace capacity that is needed or required for the tightening mechanism, such as a reel based closure device described herein. The quick release functionality is enabled by a guide member 1320 being removable from an attachment post, base member, or coupling 1310. Removal of the guide member 1320 from the attachment post 1310 allows the guide member 1320 to be moved laterally across the lace path and/or an opening of the article, which greatly and quickly reduces tension in the tension member and allows the article (e.g., ski boot) to be opened.

The guide member 1320 includes a channel 1324 through which the tension member (not shown) is slidingly inserted. The channel 1324 extends entirely through the guide member 1320 between opposing sides of the guide member 1320. The channel 1324 may be entirely enclosed by the guide member's wall or material, or the channel 1324 may include one or more open sections that allow the tension member to be exposed to the surrounding environment. The one or more open sections of the channel 1324 may aid in removing dirt and debris from within the channel 1324. In ski boot applications, removal of the guide member 1320 from the attachment post 1310 greatly facilitates in donning and doffing of the ski boot. For convenience in describing the releasable guide 1300, the article will be referred to hereinafter as a ski boot, although it should be realized that the releasable guide 1300 may be used with various other articles as desired.

The guide member 1320 typically includes a strap or tether (not shown) that extends from a distal end of the guide member 1320. The strap or tether is graspable by a user and assists in removing the guide member 1320 from the attachment post 1310. The strap or tether is designed to be easily grasped even when the user is wearing gloves.

As illustrated in FIGS. 24A-B, the attachment post 1310 is designed to be attached to an exterior or outer layer 1302 of the ski boot. The exterior 1302 of the ski boot may be formed of a relatively hard or stiff plastic material. A slot or small opening may be formed in the stiff plastic material exterior 1302 and a lip or tab 1314 of the attachment post 1310 may be inserted within the lip or tab 1314. The slot and tab 1314 may be configured so that when the tab 1314 is inserted within the slot, a bottom surface of the tab 1314 is aligned with, or substantially flush or even, with a bottom surface of stiff plastic exterior. The tab 1314 is positioned on or near a proximal end of the attachment post 1310. An insert 1332 may be positioned within an aperture that is formed in the stiff plastic exterior 1302 and a bolt or other mechanical fastener may be coupled with the insert 1332. The insert 1332 and bolt may each be threaded to allow the bolt to couple with the insert 1332 by threading or screwing the bolt into the insert 1332. The bolt is positioned through a receiving channel 1330 that extends through the attachment post 1310. The receiving channel 1330 is positioned near a distal end of the attachment post 1310. The attachment post 1310 is locked or secured onto the exterior 1302 of the ski boot when the bolt is inserted through the receiving channel 1330 and coupled with the insert 1332. Positioning of the tab 1314 within the slot further secures or couples the attachment post 1310 about the exterior 1302 and/or rotationally stabilizes the attachment post 1310 about the exterior 1302. The use of the tab 1314 and insert 1332 allows the attachment post 1310 to be easily removed and replaced from about the exterior of the ski boot as desired.

The proximal end of the attachment post 1310 has a pair or ribs or walls that angle outward from a main body in a V-shaped manner. The angled or V-shaped ribs or walls engage with proximal ends of the guide member 1320 when the guide member 1320 is coupled with the attachment post 1310 and a tension member (not shown) is tensioned. The angled or V-shaped ribs or walls are able to hold the guide member 1320 in position even when the guide member 1320 is damaged. The angled or V-shaped ribs or walls assist in releasing the guide member 1320 when the guide member 1320 is not under tension. The main body of the attachment post 1310 extends laterally from the V-shaped ribs or walls and terminates at the distal end of the attachment post 1310. The overall shape of the attachment post 1310 minimizes snow pack that could interfere with engagement of the guide member 1320 and attachment post 1310.

The distal end of the attachment post 1310 is shaped and sized to facilitate in coupling of the guide member 1320 and the attachment post 1310. Specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 24F-H and as described in greater detail infra, the distal end of the attachment post 1310 is slightly wider than the attachment post's main body, which causes a coupling spring 1326 to elastically deflect around the distal end as the guide member 1320 is coupled with attachment post 1310. The distal end may be circular or cylindrically shaped as illustrated in FIGS. 24A-H or the distal end may have any other shape, such as a square, triangular, hexagonal, polygonal, and the like.

As illustrated in FIG. 24D, the attachment post 1310 includes a lip or flange 1312 that extends outward from the main body and distal end and that extends around a perimeter of the main body and distal end near a top end or surface of the attachment post 1310. The lip or flange 1312 may extend continuously around the perimeter of the main body and distal end of the attachment post 1310 as shown in FIG. 24D, or the lip or flange 1312 may be formed of one or more discontinuous sections that extend partially around the main body and distal end of the attachment post 1310. The formation of the lip or flange 1312 on the main body and distal end results in the attachment post 1310 having an undercut section or channel that extends around the main body and distal end of the attachment post 1310. The attachment post's channel is designed to mate with a corresponding U-shaped inner channel of the guide member 1320. The U-shaped inner channel of the guide member 1320 is shaped and sized to substantially mirror or match the shape and size of the attachment post's channel.

The U-shaped inner channel of the guide member 1320 is defined by two roughly linear or straight sections and a curved section that extends between the two roughly linear or straight sections. When coupled with the attachment post 1310, the two roughly linear or straight sections of the guide member 1320 align and extend along the main body of the attachment post 1310 while the curved section aligns with and extends along the distal end of the attachment post 1310. As illustrated in FIGS. 24B-E, an upper end of the curved section 1322 may be chamfered or angled in a manner that matches and mirrors an angled or chamfered lower surface of the lip or flange 1312. In this manner, and as illustrated in FIG. 24B, the upper end of the curved section 1322 matingly engages with the lower surface of the lip or flange 1312 when the guide member 1320 is coupled with the attachment post 1310 and as the tension member is tensioned. An inner surface of the curved section likewise is shaped and sized to match the attachment post's channel and matingly engages with the attachment post's channel when the when the guide member 1320 is coupled with the attachment post 1310 and tension is applied to the tension member.

A gap between the two roughly linear or straight sections of the U-shaped inner channel is slightly wider than a width of the attachment post's main body, which allows the guide member 1320 to be easily coupled with the attachment post 1310 by pressing the guide member 1320 downward onto the attachment post 1310 or by sliding the guide member's U-shaped inner channel into engagement with the attachment post's main body and distal end. Specifically, in a first mode of coupling, the guide member 1320 may be positioned above the attachment post 1310 and the U-shaped inner channel may be aligned with the main body and distal end of the attachment post 1310. The guide member 1320 may then be pressed downward about the attachment post 1310 so that the U-shaped inner channel is positioned around the attachment post's main body and distal end. The wider U-shaped inner channel allows the attachment post's main body and distal end to slide upward and through the U-shaped inner channel as the guide member 1320 is moved downward relative to the attachment post 1310. In a second mode of coupling, the guide member 1320 is vertically aligned with the attachment post 1310 and is positioned laterally outward and away from the attachment post 1310. The U-shaped inner channel is aligned with the main body and distal end. The guide member is then moved laterally toward the attachment post so that the attachment post's main body and distal end slide through the guide member's U-shaped inner channel until the U-shaped inner channel is positioned around the main body and distal end.

The wider U-shaped inner channel also facilitates in decoupling of the guide member 1320 and attachment post 1310. Decoupling or detachment of the guide member 1320 and attachment post 1310 occurs in an opposite manner to the coupling process described supra. Specifically, the guide member 1320 is slid laterally away from the attachment post 1310 or the guide member 1320 is pulled upward relative to the attachment post 1310. One difference from the coupling and decoupling processes, however, is that when the guide member 1320 is pulled upward, the guide member 1320 is typically pulled at an angle relative to the attachment post 1310. For example, the guide member 1320 commonly includes a strap (not shown) that is positioned through a slot on a distal end 1321 of the guide member 1320. The strap is designed to be grasped and pulled by a user to allow the user to easily detach the guide member 1320 from the attachment post 1310. When the strap is pulled upward by the user, the distal end 1321 of the guide member 1320 is pulled upward while a proximal end of the guide member 1320 remains engaged with the attachment post 1310, which causes the guide member 1320 to pivot about its proximal end. Additional upward movement of the guide member 1320, via the strap, causes the attachment post to be removed from within the guide member's U-shaped inner channel, thereby uncoupling the two components.

To secure the guide member 1320 about the attachment post 1310, the guide member 1320 includes a coupling component, which in the illustrated embodiment is a generally U-shaped wire spring 1326 (hereinafter coupling spring 1326). The coupling spring 1326 is configured to engage with the lip or flange 1312 of the attachment post 1310 to secure the guide member 1320 about the attachment post 1310. In some embodiments, the coupling spring 1326 is positioned so that it extends roughly around a perimeter of the guide member 1320 and along the U-shaped inner channel. The guide member 1320 may have a spring recess or channel 1328 within which the coupling spring 1326 is positioned to secure the coupling spring 1326 to the guide member 1320. The guide member 1320 may include one or more tabs 1329 that overhang, or are positioned atop, the spring channel 1328 to secure the coupling spring 1326 within the channel 1328. To position the coupling spring 1326 within the channel 1328, the coupling spring 1326 may be elastically stretched or bent so that the coupling spring 1326 deflects around one or more features of the guide member 1320, such as the overhanging tabs 1329. The coupling spring 1326 may return to an un-deflected state when it is positioned within the channel, which may secure or lock the coupling spring 1326 within the channel.

An outer portion of the coupling spring 1326 that extends along the guide member 1320 may reinforce and stabilize an inner portion of the coupling spring 1326 that extends along the U-shaped inner channel. As illustrated in FIGS. 24F-H, the inner portion of the coupling spring 1326 is positioned within a cavity 1327 or hollow section of the guide member 1320. Specifically, the guide member 1320 includes a pair of hollow cavities 1327 within which opposing spring ends of the coupling spring 1326 are positioned. The hollow cavities 1327 allows the opposing spring ends of the coupling spring 1326 to deflect laterally outward within a respective cavity toward an outer wall of the guide member 1320. This outward deflection of the inner portion of the coupling spring 1326 allows the coupling spring 1326 to engage with the attachment post's main body and distal end, which secures the guide member 1320 to the attachment post 1310.

Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 24F, when the guide member 1320 is positioned distally of the attachment post 1310 so that guide member is not engaged with the attachment post 1310, a gap between the opposing spring ends is less than the width of the attachment post's distal end. As the guide member 1320 is slid into the position illustrated in FIG. 24G, the narrower gap of the opposing spring ends causes the opposing spring ends to deflect outward within the hollow cavities 1327 as the opposing spring ends slide past and around the attachment post's distal end. The inner portion of the coupling spring 1326 includes a curved section 1326 a that roughly mirrors or matches a curved shape and size of the attachment post's distal end. As the guide member 1320 is slid into the position shown in FIG. 24G, the curved section 1326 a of the coupling spring's inner portion allows the opposing spring ends to return to an un-deflected state. The opposing spring ends may remain in a state of tension so that the attachment posts' main body and distal end are pinched or squeezed by the inner portion of the coupling spring 1326 when the guide member occupies the position illustrated in FIG. 24G.

In addition to the guide member 1320 being slid into the position illustrated in FIG. 24G, the guide member 1320 may also be pressed downward into this position. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 24C and 24D, the guide member 1320 may be initially positioned in a raised or elevated state relative to the attachment post 1310. In this state, the inner portion of the coupling spring 1326 may rest on the lip or flange 1312 that extends around that attachment post's main body and distal end. The gap between the opposing spring ends of the coupling spring 1326 is narrower than a width of the lip or flange 1312 and thus, resting the inner portion of the coupling spring 1326 on the lip or flange 1312 prevents the guide member 1320 from sliding downward relative to the attachment post 1310. However, as a downward force is applied to the guide member 1320, the opposing spring ends of the coupling spring 1326 are deflected outward within the hollow cavities 1327, which allows the guide member 1320 to move or slide downward relative to the attachment post 1310 as described herein. The lip or flange 1312 may be angled or chamfered to aid in deflecting the opposing spring ends within the hollow cavities 1327 of the guide member 1320. The opposing spring ends of the coupling spring 1326 are deflected outward within the hollow cavities 1327 until they are moved past the lip or flange 1312, at which point the opposing spring ends return to an un-deflected state.

The opposing spring ends of the coupling spring 1326 secure the guide member 1320 about the attachment post 1310 when the guide member 1320 occupies the position illustrated in FIGS. 24E and 24G. Specifically, the guide member is secured laterally about the attachment post 1310 because the opposing spring ends are pinched or squeezed about the main body and distal end of the attachment post 1310. Similarly, the guide member is secure vertically about the attachment post 1310 because the opposing spring ends are positioned vertically below the lip or flange 1312. The guide member 1320 may be uncoupled from the attachment post 1310 by exerting a lateral force, via the strap (not shown), which causes the guide member 1320 to slide laterally outward from the attachment post 1310 and causes the opposing spring ends to deflect outward within the hollow cavities 1327 as described herein. Similarly, a vertical force may be applied to the guide member 1320 via the strap, which causes the guide member to pivot and detach from the attachment post 1310 as described herein. Pivoting of the guide member 1320 causes the opposing spring ends to deflect outward within the hollow cavities 1327.

The curved section 1326 a of the coupling spring's inner portion engages with the attachment post's distal end and biases the guide member 1320 toward a desired orientation or position with respect to the attachment post 1310. The desired orientation or position of the guide member 1320 is illustrated in FIG. 24G in which a gap 1306 exists between the upper end of the curved section 1322 and the lower surface of the lip or flange 1312. Stated differently, in the desired orientation or position, the upper end of the curved section 1322 is not engaged with the lower surface of the lip or flange 1312. This position allows the guide member 1320 to be vertically detached or uncoupled from the attachment post 1310. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 24H, if the upper end of the curved section 1322 is matingly engaged with the lower surface of the lip or flange 1312 so that the gap 1306 is not present, then an upward force that is exerted on the guide member 1320 via the strap increases the engagement of the upper end of the curved section 1322 and the lower surface of the lip or flange 1312 rather than disengaging the two components. The gap 1306 is sized so that there is sufficient clearance between the upper end of the curved section 1322 and the lower surface of the lip or flange 1312 when an upward force is exerted on the guide member 1320. As such, an upward force exerted on the guide member 1320 causes the upper end of the curved section 1322 to move upward and past the lower surface of the lip or flange 1312 without engaging the lower surface of the lip or flange 1312 or with minimal engagement of the lower surface of the lip or flange 1312.

The curved section 1326 a of the coupling spring's opposing spring ends bias the guide member 1320 so that when tension is not applied to the guide member 1320 via the tension member, the guide member 1320 occupies or returns to the orientation illustrated in FIG. 24G. For example, as a user releases tension in the tension member, the coupling spring's opposing spring ends will cause the guide member 1320 to transition or move from the position or orientation illustrated in FIG. 24H to the position or orientation illustrated in FIG. 24G. The transition or movement of the guide member to the position or orientation illustrated in FIG. 24G is preferred when the tension is released in order to allow a user to quickly uncouple and detach the guide member 1320 from the attachment post 1310. For example, a user may quickly release tension in the tension member and then quickly detach the guide member 1320, via the strap, to doff the ski boot.

The coupling spring's opposing spring ends are configured to bias the guide member 1320 toward the orientation illustrated in FIG. 24G. Specifically, a gap between the distal ends of the opposing spring ends is narrower than the width of the distal end of the attachment post 1310. As such, when the guide member 1320 is moved forward to the position illustrated in FIG. 24H, the opposing spring ends are biased outward into the hollow cavities 1327, which creates a biasing force that urges the guide member to return to the position illustrated in FIG. 24G. Releasing the tension on the guide member 1320 by releasing tension on the guided tension member causes the guide member 1320 to return to the position illustrated in FIG. 24G due to the biasing force from the opposing spring ends. The curved section 1326 a of the opposing spring ends are able to slide along the curved surface of the attachment post's distal end, which facilitates in moving the guide member 1320 from the position illustrated in FIG. 24H to the position illustrated in FIG. 24G. Returning the guide member 1320 to the position illustrated in FIG. 24G forms the gap 1306 between the upper end of the curved section 1322 and the lower surface of the lip or flange 1312, which enables easy decoupling of the guide member 1320 from the attachment post 1310.

As described supra, the configuration illustrated in FIG. 24H demonstrates a position of the guide member 1320 when the guide member 1320 is fully tensioned by the tension member. In this position, the guide member 1320 is fully engaged and coupled with the attachment post 1310. Tensioning the tension member via a tensioning mechanism, such as a reel based closure device, pulls the guide member 1320 into full engagement with the attachment post 1310. In the fully engaged position, the proximal ends of the guide member 1320 are engaged with the V-shaped ribs or walls of the attachment post 1310. The upper end of the curved section 1322 is also fully engaged with the lower surface of the lip or flange 1312 as illustrated in FIGS. 24A-B. The engagement of the upper end of the curved section 1322 and the lower surface of the lip or flange 1312 prevents uncoupling of the guide member 1320 from the attachment post 1310 even when a vertical force is applied to the guide member 1320 via the strap or some external object. As the tension is release and the guide member 1320 returns to an untensioned state or position, the proximal ends of the guide member 1320 disengage from the V-shaped ribs or walls of the attachment post 1310 as illustrated in FIGS. 24C and 24G.

While the guide member 1320 is illustrated having a relatively square or rectangular profile, it should be realized that the guide member 1320 may have various other profiles, such as circular, oval, polygon, and the like. Similarly, while the profile of the attachment post's main body and distal end are illustrated as having linear sides and a curved distal end, the profile of the main body and distal end may also be varied. For example, the opposing sides of the main body could be angled outward or have a curvilinear profile. In such embodiments, the shape and size of the U-shaped inner channel would typically be varied to mirror or match the shape and size of the attachment post's main body and distal end. In addition, although not shown, in some embodiments a second attachment post may be configured to couple with the guide member 1320 when the guide member 1320 is detached from the attachment post 1310. The second attachment post may function as a storage member to stow the guide member 1320 in an untensioned or fully released position. The second attachment post may be located relatively close to the tightening mechanism, such as a near a reel based closure device.

In some embodiments, it may be desirable to make a ski boot that is adaptable to different components that may be attached to the ski boot. Such an adaptable ski boot may be achieved in several ways. For example, the ski boot may include one or more attachment components or features that are built into the ski boot. For example, the ski boot may include one or more apertures or inserts that allow an external component, such as a reel based closure device or tension member guide, to be easily coupled to the ski boot. The external component could be snapped into the aperture or fixed to the insert. The external component could be a universal component that is attachable to components of reel based lacing systems (e.g., reel based closure device, tension member guide, etc.) and that is attachable to conventional ski boot closure systems, such as common ski boot buckles. The external component could be rubber or a ridged plastic material. The external component could be cut or molded into the ski boot.

In other embodiments, the external component could be a component that is separate from the ski boot and that is attachable to the ski boot. The external component could be designed so that it does not affect a stiffness of the ski boot like. In some embodiments, the external component could be a base member that is designed to couple with a corresponding base member or bayonet or a reel based closure device or guide member. The base member could be bolted to the ski boot and then the external component could be snapped or coupled to the base member. In some embodiments, the base member could be designed to release from the external component upon an impact of the external component.

FIG. 25 illustrates an embodiment of a base member that may be coupled with a ski boot. The base member may be positioned under an exterior shell of the ski boot and may be designed for easy coupling with the shell. For example, the shell may include a plurality of holes or apertures that corresponding arms or protrusions of the base member are inserted through. The arms or protrusions of the base member may in turn couple with a bayonet or base member that is positioned atop the shell. In some instances, the bayonet or base member may include snaps, clips, tabs, or other features that quickly and securely engage with slots or apertures of the plurality of arms. The bayonet or base member may also be mechanically fastened to the shell via a screw, bolt, or other mechanical fastener.

In another embodiment, the base member that is positioned under the shell may be inserted through a single aperture or hole that is formed in the ski boot shell. The base member may have a cylindrical wall that is insertable through the aperture or hole. The bayonet or base member that is positioned atop the shell may couple with the cylindrical wall of the base member via one or more snaps, clips, tabs, or other features that quickly and securely engage with slots or apertures of the cylindrical wall, or vice versa. Alternatively, the bayonet or base member may be threaded onto the cylindrical wall of the base member, or other attachment means may be employed. The bayonet or base member that is positioned atop the sell may removably attach to a housing of the external component, such as the housing of a reel based closure device or the attachment post 1310 of a releasable guide 1300.

In other embodiments, a panel may be attached to the boot shell. The panel may provide for attachment of other components, such as the components of a reel based lacing system (e.g., reel based closure device, tension member guide, tubing, etc.). In this manner, the panel may function to bridge existing ski boot shells with components or other closure systems and as such, the panel may allow retrofitting of traditional ski boots with other closure system components. Alternatively, the ski boot may be specifically designed and manufactured to function with a panel. The panel could be made of a rigid or more flexible material, such as various fabrics. A flexible material would not change the stiffness of the boot. The panel could also conceal tubing for routing of the tension member.

The shell illustrated in FIG. 25 could be a panel and the base member could be sandwiched between the panel and the ski boot. The panel could also hide buckle attachment components or other components, such as tubing that is routed or molded beneath the panel. FIG. 28 illustrates an embodiment of a panel that sandwiches a reel based closure device housing between a ski boot shell and the panel. A portion of tubing may also be sandwiched between the shell and panel. In some embodiments, the panel may be attached to the shell via rivets, screws, bolts, or other mechanical fasteners. In other embodiments, the panel may slide into a dovetail that is formed on the shell.

In some embodiments, the base member or other attachment feature may be molded into the panel, such as by inserting molding the components into the panel. The panel attachment means could align with existing buckle holes on the ski boot. FIG. 27 illustrated a panel with one or more molded in features or components. Specifically, a base member or bayonet may be molded into the panel. The base member or bayonet may in turn couple with a housing of another external component, such as a reel based closure device. A tubing or channel may also be molded or formed into the panel (see dashed line). The formed channel may be shaped and sized to route a tension member from the reel based closure device to another component that is attached to the panel. Tension member guides or components, such as the attachment post 1310, may also be molded into the panel. On or more stiffeners may likewise be molded into the panel for stiffening a portion or section of the panel. The panel may in turn be attached or coupled with a shell of a ski boot. As illustrated in FIG. 26, the panel may be formed so that it follows a profile of a housing of a reel based closure device, which allows the reel based closure device to integrate seamlessly into the panel.

In some embodiments, it may be preferable to adjust a liner of the ski boot. FIGS. 29 and 30 illustrate a ski boot liner that is configured for tightening via a reel based closure device. The reel based closure device is coupled with the ski boot liner via stitching, mechanical fastening, adhesives, RF or ultrasonic welding, or via any other manner known in the art. Tubing is also coupled with the ski boot liner. The tubing is routed from the reel based closure device and is configured to route or guide a tension member along a path about the ski boot liner. In a specific embodiment, the tubing extends from the reel based closure device to near an ankle of the ski boot liner so that the tension member is routed from the reel based closure device to the ankle portion of the ski boot liner. The tension member exits a distal end of the tubing and is coupled with one or more straps that extend across an opening of the ski boot liner, such as the ski boots tongue. In FIGS. 29 and 30, the ski boot liner includes two separate straps, although the ski boot liner may include more or fewer straps as desired.

A distal end of each strap includes a lace guide, such as a looped section of fabric, that is configured to guide or route the tension member through the distal end of the strap. The ski boot liner similarly includes lace guides that guide or route the tension member from near the ski boot liner's heel and/or bottom end to the one or more straps. The tension member may be routed along a single side of the ski boot liner as illustrated in FIG. 30. In some embodiments, the tension member may remain on the exterior of the ski boot liner and be positioned between the ski boot liner and the ski boot's outer shell. In other embodiments, the tension member, or a portion thereof, may be disposed within or underneath the ski boot liner. Each of the straps may be fixed to an opposite side of the ski boot liner near the heel and/or bottom end.

Tensioning the tension member pulls the one or more straps, which causes the ski boot liner to exert a downward and typically rearward force on the user's foot. In this manner, the reel based closure device may more firmly secure an instep of the ski boot liner against the foot. The reel based closure device enables a user to adjust the liner while skiing. In some embodiments, the ski boot may be configured to accommodate the reel based closure device so that the reel based closure device is accessible to the user through the ski boot's outer shell. In other embodiments, the reel based closure device may be operably coupled with a tightening device of the ski boot's outer shell so that tightening the outer shell simultaneously causes tightening of the ski boot liner.

In some embodiments, a tightening system or device may be specially configured for tightening alpine or ski boots, or other articles that include relatively rigid shells or outer materials. For ease in describing the embodiments below, the tightening system or device (hereinafter tightening device) will be generally described as being used with ski boots, although it should be understood that the tightening systems may be used to tighten other articles. The tightening device include a panel that is coupled with a reel based closure device. The reel based closure device is configured to tension a lace or tension member that is guided about the ski boot via one or more guide members, which may be rigid components that are made of plastic or other materials, or which may be flexible and soft components that are made of fabric materials.

Referring to FIG. 31A, illustrated is an elongate panel 1400 that may be used to tighten a ski boot. Specifically, the elongate panel 1400 may be positioned within a longitudinal slit or opening 1514 of a ski boot 1510 as illustrated in FIG. 31B. The elongate panel 1400 is coupled with opposing sides of the longitudinal slit or opening 1514 so that operating a reel based closure device 1410 pulls the opposing sides of the longitudinal slit or opening 1514 toward one another to close the ski boot about a user's foot. A proximal or upper end of the elongate panel 1400 may be slightly larger than a distal or bottom end of the elongate panel 1400 to accommodate the reel based closure device 1410. The elongate panel 1400 includes a body portion 1402 that is positionable longitudinally within the longitudinal slit or opening 1514 of the ski boot 1510. The body portion 1402 is typically aligned with the opposing sides of the longitudinal slit or opening 1514 when positioned within the longitudinal slit or opening 1514. The body portion 1402 is also typically centered within the longitudinal slit or opening 1514.

The reel based closure device 1410 is attached to the upper end of the body portion 1402. In some embodiments, the elongate panel 1400 may include a bayonet or housing located at the upper end that allows the reel based closure device 1410 to be removably coupled with the elongate panel 1400. A tension member 1412 is attached to the reel based closure device 1410. The tension member 1412 is tensionable by the reel based closure device 1410 as described in the applications incorporated by reference herein. The elongate panel 1400 includes at least one guide member 1404 that is attached to the body portion 1402 and that is configured to route or guide the tension member along a lace path. The elongate panel 1400 is illustrated as including two guide member 1404 in the illustrated embodiments, although more or fewer guide member 1404 may be employed.

Each guide member 1404 is typically designed so that the tension member 1412 is routed from one side of the elongate panel 1400, along a longitudinal length of the elongate panel 1400, and toward another guide member 1404 as illustrated in FIG. 31A. This results in a section of the tension member 1412 that is between the two guide members 1404 being routed roughly parallel with the longitudinal length of the elongate panel 1400 and/or opposing sides of the elongate panel 1400. This also results in the section of the tension member 1412 that is between the two guide members 1404 not crossing itself or crossing the elongate panel 1400. Stated differently, the tension member 1412 extends from the reel based closure device 1410 outward from a side of the elongate panel 1400 and is routed therefrom toward an upper guide member 1404. The upper guide member 1404 routes the tension member 1412 along the elongate panel 1400 toward a lower guide member 1404 and the tension member 1412 is routed therefrom outward from the same side of the elongate panel 1400. As such, the tension member does not cross over the elongate panel 1400 to an opposite side of the elongate panel 1400. The tension member 1412 may cross from one side of the elongate panel 1400 to the other side of the elongate panel 1400 and over the elongate panel 1400 near the bottom end of the body portion 1402 as illustrated in FIG. 31A. The upper and lower guide members 1404 of the elongate panel may be separated by a gap as desired. The upper and lower guide members 1404 may be integrally formed with the elongate panel 1400 or may be attached to the elongate panel 1400 via rives, adhesives, mechanical fasteners, welding, and the like.

FIG. 31B illustrates the elongate panel 1400 coupled with a ski boot 1510. The tension member 1412 is threaded or inserted through the guide members 1404 of the elongate panel 1400 and through guide members 1512 that are attached to the ski boot 1510. The guide member 1512 of the ski boot 1510 may be attached to the opposing sides of the longitudinal slit or opening 1514 and may extend into the longitudinal slit or opening 1514 as illustrated. The tension member 1412 is routed through the guide members 1404 of the elongate panel 1400 and through the guide members 1512 of the ski boot 1510 so that the tension member 1412 remains on one side of the longitudinal slit or opening 1514 until crossing to an opposite side of the longitudinal slit or opening 1514 toward the bottom end of the longitudinal slit or opening 1514. As illustrated, the tension member 1412 is routed from the reel based closure device 1410 through an upper guide member 1512 of the ski boot 1510 and is routed therefrom to an upper guide member 1404 of the elongate panel. The tension member 1412 is routed from the upper guide member 1404, along the elongate panel 1400, to a lower guide member 1404 of the elongate panel 1400. The tension member 1412 is routed from the lower guide member 1404 of the elongate panel 1400 to a lower guide member 1512 of the ski boot. The tension member is routed from the lower guide member 1512 across the longitudinal slit or opening 1514 to another lower guide 1512. The upper and lower guide members 1512 of the ski boot are positioned on the same side of the longitudinal slit or opening 1514 so that the tension member 1412 remains roughly on the same side of the longitudinal slit or opening 1514 until being routed to the opposite side of the longitudinal slit or opening 1514 from the lower guide member 1512.

FIG. 31B illustrates that the sections of the tension member 1412 between the upper and lower guide members 1404 of the elongate panel are parallel with one another and do not cross. As such, the respective sections of the tension member 1412 are routed from one side of the longitudinal slit or opening 1514 toward the same side of the longitudinal slit or opening 1514 via the upper and lower guide members 1404 of the elongate panel 1400. The tension member 1412 may cross over or under the elongate panel 1400 between the lower guide members 1512 of the ski boot 1510 as desired. In some embodiments, the upper and lower guide members 1404 may be positioned on a bottom side of the elongate panel 1400 so that they are concealed or covered by the elongate panel 1400 and are hidden from view. The elongate panel 1400 is typically made from various plastic or polymer materials.

FIG. 32A illustrates another embodiment of an elongate panel 1500. The elongate panel 1500 of FIG. 32A is similar to the elongate panel 1400 of FIG. 31A except that the body portion 1502 is substantially wider than the body portion 1402 of FIG. 31A and the elongate panel 1500 includes a distal guide member 1406 that routes the tension member 1412 across the distal end of the body portion 1502. The body portion 1502 may be made from a plastic or polymer material, or may be made of a carbon fiber or other fiber material. FIG. 32B illustrates the elongate panel 1500 attached to the lower shell of a ski boot. As illustrated in FIG. 32B, in some embodiments, the shell of the ski boot 1510 may be modified to accommodate the elongate panel (i.e., the panel 1400 or 1500). Specifically, the shell may include a recess 1516 in which a portion of the shell is removed or recessed from a side of the longitudinal slit or opening 1514. The recess 1516 may allow an upper guide 1518 to be recessed from an edge of the longitudinal slit or opening 1514 and positioned closer to a sole of the ski boot 1510 than it would otherwise occupy without the recess 1516. In some instances, the recess 1516 may result in a channel of the upper guide 1518 being positioned closer to an edge of the longitudinal slit or opening 1514. Positioning the upper guide 1518 closer to the ski boot's sole may create a more ideal lace path for the tension member 1412 and/or may create a more proper closure of the ski boot for individuals with low volume feet.

FIG. 33 illustrates another embodiment of an elongate panel 1600. The elongate panel 1600 of FIG. 33 is similar to the elongate panel 1400 of FIG. 31A except that the body portion 1602 includes a distal guide member 1606 and the upper and lower guide members 1604 are positioned directly adjacent one another so that the upper and lower guide members 1604 are not separated by a gap. Since the upper and lower guide members 1604 are not separated by a gap, the tension member 1412 is routed immediately from the upper guide member 1604 to the lower guide member 1604. In some instances, the upper and lower guide members 1604 may be integrated into a single guide member that includes an elongate channel that receives the tension member 1412 from one side of the longitudinal slit or opening 1514 and routes or directs the tension member 1412 to the same side of the longitudinal slit or opening 1514.

The elongate panels described herein may be formed of plastic members made of a relatively low friction material so as to create a lower friction surface upon which the tension member slides. This may allow the tension member to more easily facilitate in closing the longitudinal slit or opening of the ski boot. The elongate panels are generally free-floating within the longitudinal slit or opening of the ski boot. In other embodiments, the elongate panels may be fixedly fastened to the ski boot, such as at a distal end of the longitudinal slit or opening. The elongate panels may be attached to the ski boot by sewing, adhesively bonding, welding, mechanically fastening, etc., the elongate panel to the ski boot's shell.

While several embodiments and arrangements of various components are described herein, it should be understood that the various components and/or combination of components described in the various embodiments may be modified, rearranged, changed, adjusted, and the like. For example, the arrangement of components in any of the described embodiments may be adjusted or rearranged and/or the various described components may be employed in any of the embodiments in which they are not currently described or employed. As such, it should be realized that the various embodiments are not limited to the specific arrangement and/or component structures described herein.

In addition, it is to be understood that any workable combination of the features and elements disclosed herein is also considered to be disclosed. Additionally, any time a feature is not discussed with regard in an embodiment in this disclosure, a person of skill in the art is hereby put on notice that some embodiments of the invention may implicitly and specifically exclude such features, thereby providing support for negative claim limitations.

Having described several embodiments, it will be recognized by those of skill in the art that various modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. Additionally, a number of well-known processes and elements have not been described in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. Accordingly, the above description should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.

Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limits of that range is also specifically disclosed. Each smaller range between any stated value or intervening value in a stated range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range is encompassed. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included or excluded in the range, and each range where either, neither or both limits are included in the smaller ranges is also encompassed within the invention, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also included.

As used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a process” includes a plurality of such processes and reference to “the device” includes reference to one or more devices and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth.

Also, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” “include,” “including,” and “includes” when used in this specification and in the following claims are intended to specify the presence of stated features, integers, components, or steps, but they do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, components, steps, acts, or groups. 

1. A tightening device for tightening a ski boot, the tightening device comprising: an elongate panel having a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate panel being positionable about a shell of the ski boot between opposing sides of the shell; a tensioning mechanism that is coupled with the proximal end of the elongate panel; a tension member that is operably coupled with the tensioning mechanism so that an operation of the tensioning mechanism adjusts a tension of the tension member; and at least one guide member that is coupled with the elongate panel between the proximal end and the distal end; wherein the tension member is coupled with the at least one guide member so that the tension member is routed between the opposing sides of the shell and along a portion of the elongate panel; and wherein the elongate panel is not attached to the shell other than via the tension member.
 2. The tightening device of claim 1, wherein the shell includes a first guide member positioned on a first side of the shell and a second guide member positioned on a second side of the shell opposite the first side; and wherein the at least one guide member directs the tension member between the first guide member and the second guide member.
 3. The tightening device of claim 1, wherein the at least one guide member is an unitary guide member having four lace ports through which the tension member is inserted.
 4. The tightening device of claim 1, wherein the at least one guide member includes two guide members that are separated by a gap along a longitudinal length of the elongate panel.
 5. The tightening device of claim 4, wherein the elongate panel includes a third guide positioned at the distal end of the elongate panel, wherein the tension member is routed through the third guide transversely to the longitudinal length of the elongate panel.
 6. The tightening device of claim 1, wherein the tension member is routed longitudinally along a center portion of the elongate panel.
 7. The tightening device of claim 6, wherein the at least one guide member routes the tension member so that two sections of the tension member are routed parallel along the center portion of the elongate panel.
 8. The tightening device of claim 1, wherein opposing ends of the tension member are coupled with the tensioning mechanism.
 9. The tightening device of claim 2, wherein the first guide member or the second guide member includes a base member, a guide member that is engageable with the base member and disengageable therefrom, and a spring member that is operably coupled with the guide member and that is configured to contact the base member to at least partially separate the guide member and base member until a sufficient tension force is imparted on the tension member.
 10. A tightening device for tightening an article, the tightening device comprising: an elongate panel having a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate panel being positionable about the article; a tensioning mechanism that is coupled with the proximal end of the elongate panel; a tension member that is operably coupled with the tensioning mechanism so that an operation of the tensioning mechanism adjusts a tension of the tension member; and at least one guide member that is coupled with the elongate panel between the proximal end and the distal end; wherein the tension member is operable with the at least one guide member so that the tension member is routed about the article and along a portion of the elongate panel.
 11. The tightening device of claim 10, wherein the at least one guide member is an unitary guide member having four lace ports through which the tension member is inserted.
 12. The tightening device of claim 10, wherein the at least one guide member includes two guide members that are separated by a gap along a longitudinal length of the elongate panel.
 13. The tightening device of claim 12, wherein the elongate panel includes a third guide positioned at the distal end of the elongate panel, wherein the tension member is routed through the third guide.
 14. The tightening device of claim 10, wherein the tension member is routed longitudinally along a center portion of the elongate panel.
 15. The tightening device of claim 14, wherein the at least one guide member routes the tension member so that two sections of the tension member are routed parallel along the center portion of the elongate panel.
 16. A method of coupling a tightening device with a shell of a ski boot, the method comprising: providing the tightening device, the tightening device including: an elongate panel having a proximal end and a distal end; a tensioning mechanism coupled with the proximal end of the elongate panel; a tension member that is operably coupled with the tensioning mechanism; and at least one guide member that is coupled with the elongate panel between the proximal end and the distal end; positioning the tightening device between opposing sides of the shell; attaching the tension member to a first guide on a first side of the shell; and attaching the tension member to a second guide on a second side of the shell; wherein the elongate panel is not attached to the shell other than via the tension member.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one guide member is an unitary guide member having four lace ports through which the tension member is inserted
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one guide member includes two guide members that are separated by a gap along a longitudinal length of the elongate panel.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the tension member is routed longitudinally along a center portion of the elongate panel.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one guide member routes the tension member so that two sections of the tension member are routed parallel along the center portion of the elongate panel. 21.-40. (canceled) 